The Miracle of Essential Oils

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Best Essential Oils for Cramps including Muscle, Leg, Stomach & Menstrual Cramps (Plus How to Use)

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A resource containing recipes and directions on how to use essential oils for cramps. Cramps such as muscle, leg, stomach and menstrual cramps have been explored in this article.

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A cramp can be described as a sudden spasmodic pain involving involuntary muscle contraction. Cramps are usually temporary but if not addressed, they can be recurrent. They can also cause pain severe enough to lead to short-term immobility of the affected muscle.

For cramps, many people go for over-the-counter pain medication or creams for quick relief. However, you can easily do away with the unnecessary synthetics in such medications by using Nature’s own healers: essential oils!

Below, let’s explore the most common types of cramps and how to effectively manage them using the essential oils that work best for each.

Types of Cramps & How to Use Essential Oils for Cramps

There are a number of types of bodily cramps out there but the most common ones are muscle cramps, leg cramps, stomach cramps and menstrual cramps, which are the ones we will be focusing in this article.

1. Muscle Cramps

A muscle cramp, also known as a charley horse in the US and Canada, is caused by sudden tightening or contraction of any muscle for a few seconds or several minutes. Strenuous activities, staying in one position too long and dehydration which leads to electrolyte imbalance are some of the most common causes of muscle cramping. When you have muscle cramps, ensure to get enough rest, avoid over-exertion, drink a lot of water and eat foods high in minerals like magnesium and potassium such as bananas. One natural remedy that can help give quick relief for muscle cramps is essential oils.

Essential Oils for Muscle Cramps:

Essential oils for muscle cramps include: peppermint, eucalyptus, marjoram, thyme, lavender, fennel, wintergreen, ginger, turmeric

How to use

» Deep Tissue Massage Oil

What you need:

Method

  1. Add all the oils to the glass dropper bottle and shake to combine.
  2. To use, first apply 5 or more drops to the painful area then get the foam roller and deeply massage for about 3-5 minutes.

» Pain Cream

What you need

Method

  1. In a double boiler, melt the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax pastilles to liquid form.
  2. Leave the melted oils to cool down for about 2 minutes then stir in the essential oils.
  3. Transfer the well combined ingredients into a glass jar.
  4. Let it set in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes for it to cool down completely and harden.
  5. Use as regular pain cream.

» Soothing Bath Blend

What you need:

  • 20 – 25 drops essential oil or essential oil blend
  • 1 tbsp olive oil (where to get it)

Method

  1. Mix the essential oil in the olive oil and add it to an already drawn hot bath.
  2. Soak in for as long as you can to relieve sore and cramped muscles.

2. Leg Cramps

Leg cramps are common in old folks but can also affect teenagers, pregnant women and people who work out at night. They are muscle contractions that occur in the calves or soles of feet and can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.

Some of the causes of leg cramps, apart from the obvious ones like intense calve workout or pregnancy, include dehydration, reduced blood flow due to prolonged sitting and standing and mineral deficiency (which includes mainly low levels of magnesium, potassium, calcium and even sodium). Leg cramps can also occur due to certain medical conditions including hemodialysis, cirrhosis, lumbar canal, stenosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Essential Oils Leg Cramps:

The best essential oils for cramps in the legs include: peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass, vetiver, fennel, ginger, clove, cinnamon, turmeric, wintergreen, marjoram, thyme

How to use:

» Pain Relief Spray

What you need:

Method

  1. Into a spray bottle, add the water.
  2. Then mix the essential oils in the aloe vera gel and add it as well.
  3. Shake well to combine the ingredients. Spray on the cramp area for relief.

» Ice Block Remedy

What you need:

Method

  1. In a rectangular container, add the water. Now mix the essential oils in the vegetable oil and add that as well to the water.
  2. Mix very well to combine.
  3. Pop the container in the freezer to form an ice block. To use, wrap the ice block in a towel and press it to the cramp area for relief.

» Hot and Cold Compresses

What you need

  • 3 drops of vetiver oil (where to get it)
  • A bowl of ice cold water
  • A bowl of hot water
  • Soft wash cloth

Method

  1. Place 3 drops of vetiver oil in the hot water bowl and mix. Now wring out the washcloth in the hot water and press it to your cramp area.
  2. Repeat but this time using the cold water.
  3. Keep alternating between the hot and cold waters until you experience some relief.
  4. You may now apply the pain cream found in the second recipe of Muscle cramps above.

3. Stomach Cramps

This type of cramps can have you doubled over in pain, literally. They can arise due to a number of factors including not chewing your food well hence poor digestion, stomach flu/bug/virus, food poisoning and digestive issues including IBS (irritable bowel symptom) – basically anything related to the disorder of the digestive system especially stomach can give you stomach cramps.

Essential Oils for Stomach Cramps:

The best essential oils for cramps in the abdominal region include: peppermint, ginger, eucalyptus, fennel, clove, cinnamon, coriander, nutmeg, basil

How to use:

» Peppermint Capsules

Please consult your doctor before ingesting essential oils.

What you need

Method

  1. Add the peppermint oil to the vegetable capsule then fill it up with enough olive oil.
  2. Close the capsule and take one for relief. Ensure to take it when you at least have some food in your stomach to prevent the peppermint from touching your stomach walls.
  3. You can also purchase ready-made peppermint capsules here. Note: Essential oils are very potent and not to be consumed randomly. You can take one or two peppermint capsules everyday for three days.

» Massage Blend

What you need

Method

  1. Mix ingredients together and rub it over your stomach.
  2. Lie down for a while to let the mixture sink deep.

4. Menstrual Cramps

Almost all women experience menstrual cramps during their periods but some women have it worse with debilitating pain – the type that keeps you curled up in bed with your eyes shut tight. This type of menstrual cramp is known as dysmenorrhea and sometimes can’t be relieved fully using any amount of pain killers. Essential oils provide localized pain relief that works on an external level to numb down the pain.

Essential Oils for Menstrual Cramps:

The best essential oils for menstrual cramps are: peppermint, eucalyptus, clary sage, vetiver, rosemary, bergamot, celery seed, sandalwood, chamomile, fennel, ginger, lavender, marjoram, juniper, cypress

How to use:

» Cramp Relieving Blend

What you need

Method

Combine all the oils in the glass dropper bottle and shake well to mix.

To use it, simply place 5 drops on your palm, rub your palms together and massage the cramp area.

» Pain Prevention Blend

What you need

Method

  1. In the glass dropper bottle, shake up all the above oils until well mixed.
  2. Massage 5 drops of this blend on your lower belly in the week before you expect your period.

» Relaxing Bath Blend

What you need

  • A handful of Epsom salts (where to get it)
  • 1 cup of whole milk
  • 20 – 25 drops of geranium oil or you can use any of the blends above

Method

  1. Run a hot bath and add the Epsom salts.
  2. When the bath has been drawn, mix the essential oils in the milk then pour it in.
  3. Stir well with your hand and have a long soak to relieve menstrual cramps.

Essential Oil Safety Information

  • Before using essential oils, first check that they won’t cause allergic reactions in you by applying a patch test: rub a blend of 1 drop of essential oil in 1 tsp of carrier oil and rub it on your inner elbow. If within 1 – 2 hours, you don’t experience any negative reaction, then go ahead and use the oil as it’s safe for you.
  • Do not ingest essential oils except under the supervision of a certified aroma therapist or naturopathy doctor.
    Keep essential oils away from children and pets.
  • Refrain from using essential oils during pregnancy. For leg / muscle cramps due to pregnancy, please refer to this article on the blog, ‘What Essential Oils are Good for Pregnancy?’
  • Always purchase 100% pure therapeutic grade high quality, and if possible organic, essential oils from a reputed seller.